USING HEALING TOUCH FOR ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION

Anxiety and depression are very common in today’s global society. The effects of these disorders can create personal, family, and community hardship. Healing Touch may be able to help alleviate some of that suffering. For example, in a research study with heart patients Healing Touch was shown to reduce anxiety when used prior to a hospital procedure.(1)

Depression is a complex disorder that often times requires medical treatment. In one study symptoms of depression using a standard test were found to decrease faster with those receiving Healing Touch.(2) In an Australian study(3) depression was found to result in a disconnection from self, others and the world. Healing Touch was helpful in providing an opportunity for the patients in this study to experience understanding, safety, trust and positive anticipation in order to reconnect with the self, others and the world.

In other studies that involved looking at these factors positive effects have been found on decreasing anxiety and depression.(4),(5),(6) For example, in women undergoing radiation treatment the Healing Touch group showed more pronounced improvements in their levels of depression, anxiety and anger compared to the group that received a sham or fake healing session.(4) In another study,(6) with patients receiving chemotherapy for cancer treatment, there was a decrease in depression in all three intervention groups (one of which was Healing Touch, the others massage and presence), which suggests that the presence of a caring practitioner may help improve mood and reduce depression. However, they found that the specific intervention effects of massage and Healing Touch suggest that the touch therapies have an additive beneficial effect in improving mood, energy, and reducing fatigue.

Clearly more research needs to be conducted using Healing Touch and other energy therapies with these health problems. The benefits that are commonly found in other Healing Touch studies of providing a sense of connection and well-being may be some of the influencing factors in its benefits for those experiencing anxiety or depression.(7) Having a sense that someone understands and cares about you is often reported in patient satisfaction surveys and in practice by both practitioners and their clients. Healing Touch is safe and may provide comfort and support for those with anxiety and depression.

Below are citations of studies mentioned above.  More on studies on stress and coping. More on studies on depression.

1. Seskevich, JE, Crater, S.W., Lane, J.D., & Krucof, M.W. (2004). Beneficial effects of noetic therapies on mood before percutaneous intervention for unstable coronary syndromes. Nursing Research. 53(2), p.116-21.
2. Leb, C. (1999). The Effects of Healing Touch on Depression Healing Touch Newsletter, 8(3), p. 2.
3. Van Aken, R. (2004). The experiential process of Healing Touch for people with moderate depression. Doctoral Dissertation. School of Nursing and Health Care Practices, Southern Cross University, Australia.
4. Cook, C.A.L., Guerrerio, J.F., Slater, V.E. (2004). Healing Touch and quality of life in women receiving radiation treatment for cancer: A randomized controlled trail, Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 10(3), p. 24-41.
5. Turner, K. (2006). Preliminary Data Analysis of the Healing Partners Program. Healing Touch International, Inc. Research Survey, 8th Ed. Lakewood, CO: Healing Touch International, Inc.
6. Post-White, J., Kinney, M.E. Savik, K., Gau, J.B., Wilcox, C. & Lerner, I. (2003). Therapeutic massage and Healing Touch improve symptoms in cancer. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2(4), 332-344.
7. Moreland, K. (1998). The Lived Experience of Receiving the Chakra Connection of Women with Breast Cancer Who Are Receiving Chemotherapy: A Phenomenological Study. Master’s Thesis. University of Windsor, Canada.
   

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